Persistent corruption at immigration

What is it about the Bureau of Immigration (BI) that some of its staff seem prone to corruption?

Last week, Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla ordered a probe into the BI’s alleged issuance of prearranged employment visa, or 9G visa, to thousands of foreigners supposedly working for local companies that turned out to be fake.

It is a prerequisite in the issuance of that visa that those companies should be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The registration is presumptive proof of the validity of the visa applicant’s request to be allowed to enter and work here.

As a result of the discovery of that scam, four lawyers of the BI’s legal department were dismissed from the service.

Describing the illegal activity as “just the tip of the iceberg,” Remulla said it could involve more than 500 companies, many of which are Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) companies.

A tough job awaits the BI in looking for those foreigners, who by this time may already be in hiding, and sending them back to their country.

‘Pastillas’ bribery

In 2020, a similar case of corruption in the BI was exposed by Sen. Risa Hontiveros which involved immigration officials at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) who received bribes in the amount of P10,000 to allow hundreds of Chinese nationals to enter the country without going through the required immigration procedures or had questionable documents.

Those Chinese nationals were employed in Pogos whose operations were encouraged by the past administration in the belief that the gambling revenue they generate is worth the adverse social and moral consequences they would, in the process, cause to Filipinos.

The scheme was described as “pastillas” bribery because the bribe money was rolled in white paper that resembled the local candy delicacy called pastillas.

In June 2022, the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of 45 BI employees who were found to be involved in that caper.

But apparently that disciplinary action did not send the fear of God in the heart of some BI employees who probably think corruption is par for the course in their official duties.

In October 2023, Remulla said the justice department was monitoring the possible resurgence of that illegal activity at the Naia. To prevent that recurrence, he proposed the adoption of a system similar to that being done in Europe where the processing of visas was delegated to a third party.

Sense of hubris

Earlier, in 2016, then deputy immigration commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles were caught on camera receiving P50 million from a Chinese gambling operator in exchange for setting free some 1,300 undocumented Chinese who were working in his casino.

The two former BI officials, including a retired police officer, were later convicted by the Sandiganbayan of plunder and ordered imprisoned for 40 years, which decision the Supreme Court affirmed.

This case drew wide public attention because the two were members of the college fraternity to which former president Rodrigo Duterte also belonged and were reportedly close to him.

That relationship may have contributed to their sense of hubris when they waived their right to present evidence in their defense and simply claimed that their guilt had not been proven beyond reasonable doubt by the prosecution.

But the court ruled the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to justify their incarceration.

Shakedown

It boggles the mind why despite the two incidents mentioned, which no doubt the BI personnel, in particular its lawyers, are well aware of, that the illegal employment visa scandal happened.

Those involved in this latest corruption incident may have thought that the probability of their getting caught was nil because their victims would not dare complain about the shakedown because they were in clear violation of immigration regulations.

And that if arrested and investigated, they can invoke their right to remain silent or engage the services of lawyers who would use all the tricks in the books to delay the proceedings or, worse, file charges against the arresting officers for alleged violation of their clients’ human rights!

This brings to the fore the level of commitment by the BI employees involved to their sworn duties and responsibility to the country.

They are supposed to be the gatekeepers in the points of entry by foreigners with the mission to make sure that only those who meet the requirements for legitimate visit or employment here would be allowed to enter the country.

That disposition to thrash their oath of office in consideration for 30 pieces of silver would be welcome news to scammers, terrorists, and other criminal elements who may want to do their thing in our country.

So when will we hear again about corruption in the BI?